Head of Division, Health Emergency and Disaster Management at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region. Considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, the organization was founded in order to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single large trading bloc through an economic and trading union. It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. The organization operates officially in three co-equal languages French, English, and Portuguese.

We are currently recruiting for the vacant position below:

Job Title: Head of Division, Health Emergency and Disaster Management

Reference: ECW/WAHO-CDC/9
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: P5
Status: Permanent
Reports to: Director of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control.

Job Summary

• Under the supervision of the Director of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control, the Head of the Division for Health Emergency and Disaster Management will work closely with the other divisions of the Centre to develop and implement appropriate response strategies to control epidemics and health emergencies in West Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities
Coordinate activities of the Division and work with the other divisions of the Centre to:

• Analyze and provide Member States’ decision-makers with information on countries capacities to support policy development and implementation of actions to prevent and control diseases in the ECOWAS region.
• Support preparedness and response to major health risks, particularly in the area of infectious diseases and serious cross-border health threats.
• Coordinate the ECOWAS Regional Rapid Response Team.
• Ensure Professionals within the Division discharge their duties with quality.
• Ensure implementation within the Division of decisions by the Management and Governing Board of the Centre.
• Convene and chair meetings of the Division
• Supervise and appraise performance of staff and recommend them for confirmation in post and promotions.
• Prevent, mitigate and resolve conflicts among staff
• Address low performance issues of staff and support them for improvement
• Foster skills development and take care of interests of each staff member of the Division
• Prepare and submit annual work plans including budgets.
• Monitor and evaluate implementation of individual staff work plans.
• Prepare the annual report for all activities of the Division as well as the work programme of the upcoming year not later than six months after the end of the financial year;
• Appraise performance of Professional staff

Qualifications/Experience/Skills
The Applicant must have the following qualifications and skills:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Medicine or Medical Sciences with Postgraduate degrees in Public Health and/or Field Epidemiology.
• At least 10 years of cognate professional experience, including two (2) years at a supervisory level, in management and implementation of complex health programmes involving management of epidemics and health emergencies in West Africa;
• Possession of higher degree would reduce the required professional experience to eight (8) years;
• Good knowledge an demonstrated experience in organizing health systems in West Africa;
• Excellent strategic thinking, global approach, and report writing abilities.
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of disease control strategies, teamwork, supervision of implementing Partners, program management and ensuring contract compliance and monitoring of financial management.
• Excellent leadership skills, collaboration with partners, good interpersonal relations and advocacy skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills as well as good knowledge of health policies and work environment in the area of health Professionals training in ECOWAS Countries.
• Be familiar with the principles and practice of epidemic and emergency management in the ECOWAS region;

Age:

• Candidate must not be more than 50 (fifty) years of age at the point of recruitment and must be an ECOWAS citizen.

Language:

• Must be fluent in one of the official languages of the Community; English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage.

Annual Salary
USD 52,273 - USD 59,100.

Application Closing Date
9th April, 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "Job Application Form", fill it and send it as an email attachment together with their CV's to: waho-cdc@ecowas.int No certificate should be attached.

Click Here to Download Job Application Form (MS Word)

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